2. EXT. MAYS HOME - ROOF - NIGHT
KALIEF, a man in his early 30s, sits on his roof staring at
the stars. A bottle and an empty glass sit beside him. He
puts his head down in between his knees in contemplation.
INT. ELLINGTON HOME - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT [FLASHBACK 25 YEARS
AGO]
A man with a bottle of alcohol in his hand, in his mid-20s,
GEORGE ELLINGTON, picks up a duffle bag as he plans on
leaving while his girlfriend, LAURA ELLINGTON (mid-20s),
stands in front of the door trying to stop him. His son,
YOUNG KALIEF, aged 5, sits in silent fear, holding an action
figure as he watches his parents fight.
GEORGE
(yelling)
Move Laura! Get the fuck out my
way!
Laura remains firm in front of the door, challenging George
with her facial expressions.
GEORGE (CONT’D)
Don't make me put my hands on you.
LAURA
It's not like you ain't hesitate
before... Look you ain't leaving me
here alone.
GEORGE
I'm done fucking with ya nutass.
LAURA
It's not about me or you! I can’t
raise that boy on my own. He needs
a father.
GEORGE
Fuck him too, I'm done with this
whole shit!
LAURA
You know what?
GEORGE
What?
3. 2.
LAURA
Kalief looks up to you no matter
how fucked up you are because
you’re his father. And you owe it
to him to be one, but you ain't got
the fucking balls n****. So go
head...
Kalief's father drops his bag and the bottle.
GEORGE
(raising his hand)
You know what bi-
Kalief hits his father with his toy.
YOUNG KALIEF
(yelling)
Stop! Stop!
LAURA
(softly)
Mommy got it Kalief, go sit back
down!
GEORGE
You heard ya mom.
YOUNG KALIEF
Stop!
George snatches the action figure from Kalief's hand, making
Kalief fall back on the floor.
GEORGE
(laughing)
You hitting me with this shit? So
that make me the evil villain
right?
LAURA
Leave him alone.
GEORGE
(pushing her back)
Naw, you want me to teach em
something..lesson one.
His father breaks the toy in half.
GEORGE (CONT’D)
I'm ya only hero nigga.
Kalief begins to cry.
2.
4. 3.
GEORGE (CONT’D)
Shut up, you lucky I ain't take off
my belt boy.
Laura pushes past Kalief's father and hugs Kalief.
LAURA
Just leave...
George stares at Laura and Kalief on the floor for a moment
almost regretful. He picks up his bag, leaving the bottle. He
opens the front door and walks out.
INT. MAYS HOME - LIVING ROOM - DAY
Kalief, walks into his home with his son, KA (Kalief Mays),
age 7, and his wife, MAYA MAYS. Kalief carries his son in his
arms, acting as if Ka was flying. Ka has his arms out and is
smiling. Maya follows behind them. Kalief and Maya are
dressed in all black while Ka wears a purple shirt.
KALIEF
(in a deep voice)
Du-dun dun duuun!!
MAYA
It's a bird! It's a plane! It's
Superman!
KA
No mom, I'm Violets! Shwoooooo!
KALIEF
Yeah he's Violets!
MAYA
(laughing)
My bad, my bad. Y'all know I don't
know.
Kalief continues to fly Ka around the living room as Ka makes
wind noises. Maya walks into the kitchen.
KALIEF
(yelling playfully)
Oh no! Watch out! Watch out!
Kalief tosses Ka onto the couch. Kalief plops on the couch
next to Ka with an exaggerated menacing smile.
KALIEF (CONT’D)
I will defeat you!
3.
5. 4.
Kalief begins tickling Ka and Ka fidgets around giggling.
MAYA
(yelling from the
kitchen)
Violets and mister supervillain!
Y'all gon destroy the city or wash
these dishes one of y'all left so I
can cook this food?
Kalief and Ka look at each other, because neither of them
wants to wash the dishes.
KA
I didn't leave anything in there.
KALIEF
I mean... ain't you a superhero
though? You gotta save dinner.
KA
Really dad?
KALIEF
Here's a deal, you help your mom
and I tell you a story tonight.
KA
Deal.
Kalief and Ka shake hands. Then Ka runs into the kitchen as
Kalief relaxes on the couch. He stares up at the ceiling in a
reverent daze.
INT. MAYS HOME/DINING ROOM - NIGHT
Kalief, Maya, and Ka are finishing up dinner. Kalief sits on
one end of the table and his wife and son sit on either side
of him. Ka is eating his food and looking at his tablet. Maya
discusses her work as a professional writer.
MAYA
Disregarding his usual little
critical remarks, I think he loved
the article! And if I keep these
stories coming, I bet I can get
promoted by the end of the year, we
could use that... as long as he
ain't hating on a sista.
KALIEF
I know you gon get it babe, don't
even sweat it.
4.
6. 5.
MAYA
(laughing)
Oh I know I can. My editor just
need to know too. He wasn't even
trynna let me have off today.
KALIEF
Well I did tell you that you didn't
even have to take off.
Maya sighs, shaking her head and gets up from the table,
picking up her plate.
MAYA
Y'all done with with y'all plates?
KA
Yeah, here mom.
Ka and Kalief hand Maya their plates.
KALIEF
Thanks babe.
Maya walks out of the room into the kitchen.
KA
Where did you and mom go today? You
guys were dressed all fancy.
KALIEF
(hesitant at first)
Uhhh, we went to a wedding, pretty
boring... uhh, but you better get
ready for bed. I'll come in later
for that story I owe you.
KA
(getting out of his seat
quickly)
Yess!
Ka runs out of the dining room. Kalief sits at the table for
a moment staring into space, but in deep thought. Then he
gets up from the table and walks into the kitchen.
INT. MAYS HOME/KITCHEN - NIGHT
Kalief walks in the kitchen. Maya is at the sink washing
dishes. He opens a cabinet and pulls out a glass and a liquor
bottle. Maya looks at him, seeing what he is doing.
5.
7. 6.
MAYA
What you getting that out for?
KALIEF
What? I'm getting me a drink.
MAYA
You know damn well that you don't
drink.
KALIEF
Well, I want one tonight.
MAYA
(staring)
Ok...
KALIEF
Don’t look at me like that. I'm not
worried about him... you the one
that forced me to go!
MAYA
Because I knew that you would
regret it if you didn’t.
KALIEF
Well look where we are now...
Beat.
MAYA
So I’m guessing that you still
don’t plan on telling Ka anything
about him? Ka knows my side of his
family, but he literally has no
connection to yours.
KALIEF
What do you want me to do? He knew
his grandma before she passed...
shit, she’s all I had. My son don’t
need to know about some random ass
guy that only knew from times he
felt like being a dad.
MAYA
But you blocked every chance he
made to reconnect with you and make
it up... You didn’t even let him
come to our. wedding
6.
8. 7.
KALIEF
Years of bullshit and not being
there don’t get fixed with a sorry.
Fuck that n****, I hope he burning
right now.
MAYA
Kalief...
Kalief takes a deep breath.
As Kalief puts the bottle and glass back into the cabinet,
Maya comes from behind him and hugs him. She then walks out
of the kitchen.
INT. MAYS HOME - KA'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
Kalief wipes a single tear from his eye before he walks into
Ka's bedroom. Ka's bedroom is full of superhero posters and
action figures.
KA
Finally! Dad, if you could have one
of Violets’ powers, what would you
choose? 'Cause I would choose
strength. I could pick up cars and
throw them!
KALIEF
I don't know. Violets used to be
one of my favorite heroes as a kid
too, but for someone reason I’ve
always wanted to fly.
KA
Yeah that would probably be my
second choice.
Kalief smiles emptily.
KALIEF
So are you ready for that story?
KA (YAWNING)
Yeah.
KALIEF
You sure? You sound tired.
KA
Yeah dad please!
7.
9. 8.
KALIEF
Alright, alright. I think where we
left off... Violets was fighting
Lieutenant Baz...
Time ealpses and Ka's snores interrupt Kalief. Realizing that
Ka has fallen asleep, Kalief touches Ka's hand. He then gets
up, turns Ka's night light off and leaves his room. Ka sleeps
peacefully in his bed.
INT. MAYS HOME - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
Kalief sits in the living room on the couch with a glass full
of alcohol in his hand. He stares at it for a moment and then
sits it down without taking a sip. He sighs and relaxes back
on the couch, closing his eyes.
EXT. ROOFTOP - DAY
VIOLETS, donning a hooded purple suit sits over top
LIEUTENANT BAZ, who is wearing all black military gear and
bears a resemblance to George Ellington, punching him
repeatedly in the face. Baz gives a bloody smile as he takes
the punches.
LIEUTENANT BAZ
This won’t save him.
Baz spits blood out of his mouth. Violets begins to choke
him.
LIEUTENANT BAZ (CONT’D)
You only proving how fucked up you
are just like me.
VIOLETS
I’m only fucked up because of you.
LIEUTENANT BAZ
No, I tried to teach you how to be
a man.
VIOLETS
A man is there for his son. What
happened? It’s like one day you
just put me down and never picked
me back up... a bottle was the
worthy replacement.
8.
10. 9.
LIEUTENANT BAZ
The time for getting stuff off your
chest is over with now. Save it for
when you meet me in hell.
Violets freezes for a moment, and Lieutenant Baz pulls
Violets’ costume downward to head butt him.
LIEUTENANT BAZ (CONT’D)
Come on, this isn’t little Ka’s
hero?
Lieutenant Baz head butts him again.
LIEUTENANT BAZ (CONT’D)
...the one being consumed by the
past.
Lieutenant Baz punches Violets in the face.
INT. MAYS HOME - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
Kalief wakes up delirious on the couch. He sweats and pants
rapidly.
KALIEF
Only right that in death you haunt
me.
EXT. MAYS HOME - ROOF - NIGHT [FLASH FORWARD AN HOUR LATER]
Kalief stands up and walks closer to the edge of the roof. He
looks down.
INT. MAYS HOME - KA’S BEDROOM - NIGHT [FLASHBACK AN HOUR
BEFORE]
Kalief walks into Ka’s bedroom and Ka sits propped up in his
bed drawing something.
KALIEF
I thought you were sleep.
KA
I woke back up as soon as you
closed my door.
Kalief chuckles.
9.
11. 10.
KALIEF
Well what are you working on? A new
Kalief Mays exclusive?
KA
(laughing)
Yeah, I'm drawing Violets.
Kalief sits on Ka's bed and Ka hands him the drawing.
KALIEF
This is really good. It kinda looks
like me.
Kalief holds the drawing up to his face and flexes his other
arm. Both of them laugh.
KA
Since I don't really know what he
looks like under the hood, I drew
his face like yours.
KALIEF
Why me?
KA
Because you're one of my favorite
heroes too.
Kalief pauses for a moment and then smiles.
KALIEF
(sincere and then
laughingly)
Thanks son... but only one of? I
could beat Violets.
KA
(laughingly)
No dad, you are my favorite. But
you couldn't take Violets.
Kalief and Ka burst out laughing.
KALIEF
Well do you want to hear another
story? This time about your dad.
10.
12. 11.
EXT. ROOFTOP - DAY
Violets holds Lieutenant Baz up by his chest, staring right
at him with glowing red eyes. Violets scowls with anger while
Baz smiles.
LIEUTENANT BAZ
What are you waiting for, I’m the
villain right? Do it. Do it!
Fucking doing it!
Violets breathes heavier as his eyes stop glowing.
EXT. MAYS HOME - ROOF
Kalief stands at the edge of the roof.
VIOLETS (V.O.)
I can’t.
Kalief steps off the roof, but no descent is seen.
INT. DEPARTMENT STORE - DAY [FLASHBACK 25 YEARS AGO]
Laura pushes a cart down the aisle as George holds a young
Kalief in his arms, flying him down the aisle.
KALIEF
Wait, wait, Dad!
George pauses and puts Kalief down.
GEORGE
What? What’s wrong?
Kalief runs a few feet back to a selection of toys on the
shelves.
Kalief picks out a superhero action figure.
KALIEF
Can I get this? Pleeeeaaase!
GEORGE
How much it cost?
Kalief shrugs his shoulders. George laughs.
GEORGE (CONT’D)
Aiight, yeah, let’s get it.
11.
![EXT. MAYS HOME - ROOF - NIGHT
KALIEF, a man in his early 30s, sits on his roof staring at
the stars. A bottle and an empty glass sit beside him. He
puts his head down in between his knees in contemplation.
INT. ELLINGTON HOME - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT [FLASHBACK 25 YEARS
AGO]
A man with a bottle of alcohol in his hand, in his mid-20s,
GEORGE ELLINGTON, picks up a duffle bag as he plans on
leaving while his girlfriend, LAURA ELLINGTON (mid-20s),
stands in front of the door trying to stop him. His son,
YOUNG KALIEF, aged 5, sits in silent fear, holding an action
figure as he watches his parents fight.
GEORGE
(yelling)
Move Laura! Get the fuck out my
way!
Laura remains firm in front of the door, challenging George
with her facial expressions.
GEORGE (CONT’D)
Don't make me put my hands on you.
LAURA
It's not like you ain't hesitate
before... Look you ain't leaving me
here alone.
GEORGE
I'm done fucking with ya nutass.
LAURA
It's not about me or you! I can’t
raise that boy on my own. He needs
a father.
GEORGE
Fuck him too, I'm done with this
whole shit!
LAURA
You know what?
GEORGE
What?](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)